I Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Regrets!
Read more about: Overcoming Obstacles
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ShoeMoney tagged me with a meme the other day as he asks me and David Dellanave, Greg Hartnett, Danny Sullivan, and Neil Patel a pretty personal question :: What do we wish we had been more serious about in life?
To be honest with you, I don’t think I can come close to the wisdom and inspiration that Jeremy shared in his own post. Did you know that the rich and famous ShoeMoney himself used to weigh 240 pounds more than he does right now, was a quarter of a million dollars in debt and once never had any intentions of making more than $25K a year?
Yeah, neither did I! But I think this is why he and I clicked so much at Elite Retreat, because we have a lot in common (although he really has me beat on several fronts).
So what do I wish I had been more serious about in life?
Quite honestly, it’s hard to regret any of my mistakes anymore - because I’m pretty dang happy with where I am today. But if I could go back in time keeping the lessons while losing some of the pain, here’s what I would have done differently:
Self Respect
I used to really hate myself - I mean, I would just sit there and detest every cell in my body. I hate even thinking about it now, because there’s a night and day difference. back then, I would do just about anything to get love and approval from anyone else. I was needy, I took on other people’s opinions rather than forming my own, and I ignored my own inner wisdom if I thought it meant someone else would think I was worthy. I dated loser guys, if I dated at all. The guy I was dating when I was 25 was such a drug-using moron that we broke up when I was 4 months pregnant with his child. I spent the next few years single and I’ve never collected a cent of child support.
The good part of that story is that it was just the wakeup call I needed to start taking care of myself - which I have done since I became a mom. 
So I wish I would have learned this lesson a lot earlier in life - because living like that was excruciating.
Ambition
Two years after graduating from college I was a waitress. I had a degree in Psychology, yet I was waiting tables for a living. Flash forward to today, and I know hundreds, if not thousands of people who are two years out of college and already are more successful than I am. A Mr. Kevin Rose comes to mind. If I had just an ounce of the ambition that I have now back then, we probably wouldn’t be having this conversation - and Tony Robbins would be introducing ME at my next speaking event! 
Domain Name Choices
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. If I had ANY idea as to how this blog would have evolved, I NEVER would have chosen the URL eMomsatHome.com. Only half of you are women, and less than that are moms. I still get emails from people saying, “Wow - love your site! I came across it before but since I’m not a mom, I didn’t stick around!”
GAH.
I tag Kris Jones, Liz Strauss, Ben Yoskovitch, Tony Clark and Jennifer Laycock. Yeah, this should be good.
Sparkplugging Founder Wendy Piersall is dang passionate about helping people start & grow a business while maintaining life balance (somehow).
Dawud Miracle has one focus: to help you get it. The it? How your website, and blog, can change the way you do business. You can find out more at 
Teresa Morrow manages online book publicity and event promotion for authors, speakers and writers with her company 
I dont look at a site being for mothers or not because to me its not a big deal, and I think a lot of people look at sites oh I need to know more about that niche to take something from the site and thats a big problem is teaching people how to take from multiple websites. I get a lot of non moms at pajama mommy which is nice!
I think it’s hard to know what to do after college. The Kevin Roses of the world are the exceptions.
I’m guessing you learned alot from your journey, lessons that come through in this blog.
And besides, Kevin Rose might be rich, but Wendy Piersall inspires me.
Well Wendy, in addition to sharing the “Domain name collecting” gene, you and I share the ambition gene! The thing is, while I recognize in myself that I am smart and talented but not overly ambitious, I also realize that I have been able to use my core talent (writing) almost daily since I was 8 years old. And to me, the writing is critical. So to have been able to use it, even if not in the way I originally planned, well I still consider that a success and I love myself for that!!
This is an interesting meme and I may just tag myself for a weekend post!
@ Amanda - good to hear I’m not the only mom site that gets non-mom visitors!
@ Nathania - you just MADE MY DAY.
@ Janet - Oh- yes! Let me know if you do it so I can read it!
Off to get ready for SOBCon now, see you all on Monday!
That is a good question.. it gets the gears turning!
I suppose that I regret working in a dead end job for 9 years before returning to University. That said, I met lots of good people doing the job, and I’ve met lots of good people since, who I would probably not have met if I had returned to education earlier. I know that I would have met different people. It’s all swings and round abouts
I suppose confidence and self respect are things that affect everybody in some way at some time. Sometimes I meet the most amazing people and find them so unhappy with themselves
Why are you bothering over the domain. Although you might think theres too many downsides you could always change it and carry all your link love and search engine referalls over…
Better late than never
Glen
(For some reason I always go to put a ‘x’ on the end of the comments LoL, I think I should stop reading this blog)
Ah, Glen - it’s the Technorati thing that keeps me here, because if I switch URLs I go back to zero over there.
I feel like I’m stuck in a bad cell phone contract but can’t change carriers without losing my phone number.
Wendy,
Don’t mess with your domain - it’s become a strong part of your brand, and you’ll likely be best off just growing it.
And I have a confession to make - as a regular reader and visitor: I’m not a mom.
Have an awesome day!
Dan
No worries, Dan, I don’t plan on it - I agree that it’s been a huge asset to the brand.
I could go to SOBCon with a name tag that says ‘eMom’ and more people would know who I am than if it said Wendy Piersall!
Yep, just like I’m so often “Dan and Jennifer”. That may require therapy at some point down the line.
What’s funny is that I somehow got a sucked into LinkedIn lately since we’ve gotten invites from quite a few of our friends… and I constantly introduce myself as “Dan from Dan and Jennifer”, since most of our friends these days know Jennifer and me together as simply “Dan and Jennifer”.
Yeah, a unique brand is great and very important. We’re facing an interesting issue now since we’re about to launch 2 new blogs (one on blogging to track all our experiments, etc. and the other on personal growth, spirituality, etc.).
So we’re working out the identity angle there. People know you for one major thing and it’s weird to branch out too much.
Have an awesome day!
Dan
Well I’m not a mom, I’m not even a woman.
I stuck around because I know honesty and sincerity when I read it. A lot of people think I’m a girl anyway so I fit right in!
Wendy I’m so happy to hear about your transition. I’m also a late bloomer and have learned to believe in myself somewhere along the way. It’s amazing what a difference it makes.
I have a feeling we’re going to see a lot of guys coming out today. No, not like that.
Have an awesome day!
Dan
What i am realizing at this stage in my life is that I wish I had taken things LESS SERIOUSLY. Starting with myself! I have spent much of my life doing what is SAFE so that I don’t risk making a mistake and God forbid seem less than perfect. Obviously that is not attainable yet my m.o. remained the same. Be safe, do the sure thing, do the respectable thing. I was always the one the teacher left in charge of the classroom when they had to step out. I wish I’d been sent to the principal’s office a little more so I’d have gotten the taste for risk a little sooner. It is a conscious decision on a daily basis to not run to safety (a job -any job for a steady paycheck, etc…)
The domain name thing is quite frustrating. Every time I think up a good name for something, of course it’s taken. And normally it’s not even being used, but some rummy is trying to sell it for $2500. And getting my personal domain name was insanely easy, just had to offer up a web design for them on another domain and wham, got my name.
your domain is just fine. my previous domain was taken by some nameking.com… i was really furious then!
Domain names are truly important. I still think that you have tapped into a great market. I spend my whole day trying to help people start businesses on the internet. I can’t tell you how many of them are moms that are staying at home with kids and trying to find an income. I think you provide a lot! Keep it up.
Hi Wendy!
I can relate to regrets, however if we were meant to have taken different actions at that time in the past, we would have. I think it’s easy for us to look back now, having more strength, courage, knowledge, and confidence than we did then, and think “why didn’t I do such and such?”. We weren’t the same person then, and we didn’t have the same tools.
Wow, this is really good, I’m glad you posted this because it’s made me think about my own regrets….something I’ve been struggling with for the past year or so. Thanks Wendy!!
All the best,
JoLynn
there is nothing like ambition, I always say it. I have a degree in psychology as well, and web design is all I do for living, but if not some ambitions, I’d not be a company owner at present.
hope everyone’s ambitions will bring u high.
“domain name choices” - i felt the same way as you a couple of times about my domain name before, and wished i had chosen a different one, but i guess i’ll stick with it, it’s part of “branding”, as they say.
By the way, it really was an pleasure meeting you at SOBCon07! Your presentation was awesome! It shows when someone speaks with his/her heart and you did! It was meaningful and really touching!
I’m not a woman and sure not a mom, but still i’m one of those who read your blog everyday!
keep it up!
Jonathan
Wendy, as usual, your honesty is always why I come back to read.
I think in the end, the reason why you are successful today is the fact that you persevered despite the situations thrown at you, or even the situation you brought upon yourself.
You may have had a slow start, but as my father says, it’s not how you start but how you finish..
And you are definitely off to a strong finish..
Wendy–it was awesome meeting you at SOBCon–you rock!
Wendy - it was awesome getting the chance to read your blog, which I stumbled upon randomly. I think this post was definitely an inspiration for me and I will be forwarding this message along to one of my friends who is dating a completely loser and could stand to see how she could pull out of this and still be a great person.
I’m not a mom and yet I think you’re domain name expresses who you are. There’s nothing wrong with that and if people can’t relate then they don’t deserve to visit.
Thanks again!
-Kate
Wendy-
I try hard not to spend much time on regrets. It is the sum total of the experiences I have had thus far (both good and bad) that make me the person I am today.
I would perhaps have had an easier life if I had done some things differently, but would I still be me? I LIKE me.
As always, you rock.
Challenge answered.